American Dental Association Universal Numbering System

Last revised by Francis Deng on 6 Aug 2021

The American Dental Association Universal Numbering System is a tooth notation system primarily used in the United States.

Teeth are numbered from the viewpoint of the dental practitioner looking into the open mouth, clockwise starting from the distalmost right maxillary teeth.

Right maxillary

  • 1: third molar (wisdom tooth)
  • 2: second molar (12-year molar)
  • 3: first molar (6-year molar)
  • 4: second premolar (bicuspid)
  • 5: first premolar (bicuspid)
  • 6: canine (cuspid)
  • 7: lateral incisor
  • 8: central incisor

Left maxillary

  • 9: central incisor
  • 10: lateral incisor
  • 11: canine (cuspid)
  • 12: first premolar (bicuspid)
  • 13: second premolar (bicuspid)
  • 14: first molar (6-year molar)
  • 15: second molar (12-year molar)
  • 16: third molar (wisdom tooth)

Left mandibular

  • 17: third molar (wisdom tooth)
  • 18: second molar (12-year molar)
  • 19: first molar (6-year molar)
  • 20: second premolar (bicuspid)
  • 21: first premolar (bicuspid)
  • 22: canine (cuspid)
  • 23: lateral incisor
  • 24: central incisor

Right mandibular

  • 25: central incisor
  • 26: lateral incisor
  • 27: canine (cuspid)
  • 28: first premolar (bicuspid)
  • 29: second premolar (bicuspid)
  • 30: first molar (6-year molar)
  • 31: second molar (12-year molar)
  • 32: third molar (wisdom tooth)

Supernumerary teeth are notated by adding 50 to the number of the adjacent permanent tooth.

Right maxillary

  • A: second molar
  • B: first molar
  • C: canine
  • D: lateral incisor
  • E: central incisor

Left maxillary

  • F: central incisor
  • G: lateral incisor
  • H: canine
  • I: first molar
  • J: second molar

Left mandibular

  • K: second molar
  • L: first molar
  • M: canine
  • N: lateral incisor
  • O: central incisor

Right mandibular

  • P: central incisor
  • Q: lateral incisor
  • R: canine
  • S: first molar
  • T: second molar

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Cases and figures

  • Fig 1: orthopantomogram
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  • Fig 2: CT, upper
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  • Fig 3: CT, lower
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  • Dental notations (illustration)
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